Inflatable bathtub seat



April 4, 1967 T. N. BOURKE INFLATABLE BATHTUB SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1965 FIG. I

IN NTOR. THOMAS N. ouRKE ATTORNEYS April 4, 1967 T. N. BOURKE 3,311,930

INFLATABLE BATHTUB SEAT Filed March 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS N. BOURKE BY FIG. 6 fi mw m ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,311,930 INFLATABLE BATHTUB SEAT Thomas N. Bourke, 533 Lakeland,

Gresse ?ointe, Mich, 4823i) Filed Mar. 9, E65, Ser. No. 433,359 18 Claims. (Ci. 4-185) This invention relates to a seat which can be raised and lowered within a bathtub to enable bathers, particularly those who are aged or infirm, to enter and leave the bathtub in safety.

Bathtub bottoms are nortoriously slippery. Without the aid of special equipment, each time a bather steps into or out of a bathtub, he must momentarily have all of his weight on one foot on the bathtub bottom. A slip at this time can, and frequently does, result in serious injury to the bather. Entering and leaving a bathtub is a particularly hazardous procedure for aged and infirm persons.

It is generally recognized that for many persons tub baths have therapuetic value superior to shower baths. Nevertheless, many people are forbidden or are unable to to take tub baths because of the dangers involved in getting into and out of the bathtub.

Numerous devices have been developed heretofore for assisting bathers into and out of bathtubs. Some of these involve relatively complex, expensive equipment; and, in general, are suitable only for use in hospitals and the like. Other devices, while less complex, have still been too expensive for use in the average household and have been subject to certain disadvantages such as lack of stability and durability, etc.

The object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub seat structure which is inexpensive enough so that it can be purchased for use in the ordinary household, which is light enough so that a housewife can readily handle it, which is stable in use, durable, and convenient to operate.

in general, the invention contemplates the use of three substantially rigid boards, one of which rests on the bathtub bottom, another of which has rigid, hinged connections to opposite ends of the upper and lower boards. A pair of inflatable bags are provided between the sloped, interconnecting board and the top and bottom boards. The rigidity of the boards provides stability against lateral tipping and means are provided for restraining the transfer of water between the inflated bags to provide longitudinal stability. One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic, generally side elevational view of an inflatable bathtub seat according to this invention in use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary partly sectional view of a fitting between the fill and drain tube and a bathtub faucet.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bathtub seat in collapsed condition.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bathtub seat by itself in inflated or elevated condition.

FIG. 5 is a small-scale, partly diagrammatic side elevational view of a modified form of the seat, portions being broken away and shown in section to illustrate structural details.

FIG. 6 is a generally persepctive view of one of the inflatable bags used in the .form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5.

Shown in FIG. 1 is an inflatable seat structure it) according to thi invention in use within a bath tub 12 equipped with a faucet 14, the flow of water from which which is controlled by one or more handles 16. The seat structure includes a flexible tube 18 through which Cal 3,311,933 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 water under pressure is introduced into the seat and drained therefrom, and a fitting 2!} having certain valving described below is interposed between the tube and faucet The seat structure comprises a substantially rigid base 22 adapted to rest upon bathtub bottom 24 and the sur face of this base is preferably provided with a layer or coating of rubber or equivalent material 25 for frictional engagement with the bathtub. The seat structure includes an upper member 23 providing the seat proper for an occupant, and this member is also substantially rigid. Base 22 and seat 28 are interconnected by a substantially rigid member 30 through hinged connections 32, 34 respectively at opposite ends of the base and seat. These hinged connections are also substantially rigid in directions normal to the plane of relative swinging of member 36 relative to the base and seat for a purpose described below. To provide this rigidity, hinges 32 and 34 are conveniently of the piano-hinge type extending entirely from one side to the other of the interconnected members as illustrated.

Members 22-, 28, and 30 can be made of any suitable light-weight, rigid, and preferably water-resistant material such as marine plywood or a thermosetting plastic reinforced with glass fibers, such as that commercially available under the trademark Fiberglas. For convenience in manufacture, these members are illustrated as being in the form of boards having substantially the same size.

Seat 28 is raised and lowered relative to base 22 by means of a pair of inflatable bags 36 which can be made of a suitable waterproof material such as rubber, rubberized fabric, or the equivalent. One of these bags has its lower end portion 355 secured to base 22 and its upper end portion 44) secured to interconnector 30. The other bag has its upper end portion 42. connected beneath seat 28 and its lower end portion 44 secured to the interconnector.

When the bags are empty of water, they collapse to the condition of FIG. 3 wherein boards 22, 28, and 30 flatly overlie one another. When water is introduced into the bags, they expand to the condition of FIG. 4. This causes seat 28 to elevate away from base '22 while maintaining a substantially horizontal attitude, board 30 swinging to a sloped attitude between hinges 32, 34. Bags 36 are configured so that in inflated condition their respective end portions 40 and 44 conform to this slope of board 36.

Board 38 is provided with a central opening 46 through which extends a tube 48 interconnecting the interiors of bags 36. When water under pressure is introduced from faucet 14 through fitting 20 and tube 18 into the left-hand bag as the drawin s are viewed, this bag begins to inflate and water also passes to the right-hand bag through tube 48 so that both bags inflate substantially simultaneously for elevating seat 28 substantially horizontally. Tube 48 also facilitates substantially simultaneously deflation of the two bags and substantially horizontal descent of seat 28.

in their inflated condition, bags 38 have little or no inherent lateral stability. However, because of the rigidity of boards 22, 28, and 3t) and the rigidity of joints 32, 34. these boards cannot tilt relative to each other except about the axes of the pivotal joints. Thus, seat 28 is effectively stabilized against any lateral tipping. Moreover, tube 48 has a relatively small sectional area, thereby providing restraint against any rapid transfer of water between the bags in their inflated condition, and this restraint provides for substantial stability of the seat against tipping in a longitudinal direction. if desired, this restraint could be increased by eliminating tube 48 and providing separate tubes for filling the two bags from fitting 20.

Byway of example, fitting 20 comprises a casing 50 having an inlet end 52 secured to an adaptor 53, such as by the threaded clamp ring structure illustrated, this adaptor in turn having a suitable quick-release connection to faucet 14. Casing 59 has an outlet end equipped with a nipple 54 to which the end 56 of hose 18 detachably connects. Within the casing is a check valve 58 which admits water from faucet 14 to outlet 54 but which closes against backflow of water into the faucet. The check valve illustrated is of the rubber, split-double-reed type. Casing 50 also contains a pressure-relief valve 60 held closed by a light spring 62 which yields to a relatively low, predetermined pressure within casing 50 to permit water to exhaust through openings 64 and thereby guard against over-inflating and rupturing bags 36.

To facilitate handling of devices 10, seat member 28 is shown as being provided with hand-hold openings 66 and boards 22, 30 are provided with cut-away portions 68, 70 respectively to facilitate manual access to openings 66.

In use, it will be assumed that seat structure is initially in the collapsed condition of FIG. 3 and that fitting has been mounted on faucet 14 as shown. The seat structure in its collapsed condition is placed in the bathtub with non-skid surface 26 of baseboard 22 against the bathtub bottom. End 56 of hose 18 is connected with nipple 54. The water is turned on by means of handle 16, and the water entering bags 36 inflates them so that seat 28 moves from the lower, dotteddine position of FIG. 1 to the full-line position. In its fully elevated position, seat 23 is about level with the top of bathtub 12 as illustrated.

The occupant sits down on seat 28, at this time facing sideways from the bathtub with his feet on the floor outside of the bathtub. The occupant then swings his feet over the top of the bathtub and to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. Hose 18 is then detached from nipple 54 and laid down on the bottom of the tub. Bags 36 drain rapid- 1y through hose 18 as a result of the head of the water columns in the bags augmented by the weight of the occupant on the bags. After hose 18 is disconnected from fitting 20, the fitting may be disconnected from faucet 14 and the bath water turned on to fill the tub.

When the occupant desires to leave the bathtub, fitting 2%? is again connected to faucet 14, and handle 16 is turned to admit water under pressure into bags 36. The bags again inflate to raise seat 2.8 to the solid-line position of FIG. 1. Thereupon, the occupant without getting up merely swings his feet upwardly and outwardly over the side of the bathtub and places his feet on the floor. The occupant then completely leaves the bathtub merely by standing up.

Tube end 56 may then be detached from nipple 54 and dropped to the bottom or" the bathtub, whereupon bags 36 will drain and the device will collapse to the condition shown in FIG. 3.

Typically, seat structure 10 can be in the vicinity of about 18" wide by about long so that seat 28 has an area of about 450" sq. The vertically disposed ends of bags 36 typically have a total area of about two-thirds of the seat area, or approximately 300" sq. Thus, with a very low pressure of 12 p.s.i. in the bags, the seat structure is capable of elevating and supporting 300 to 600 pounds of weight. As is obvious from the drawings, the total volume of bags 36 in inflated condition is small as compared to the total volume defined by the outlines of the seat structure in elevated condition. Thus, the seat structure can be elevated and collapsed relatively quickly. The entire inflatable seat structure is made of relatively inexpensive and light-weight materials. It is within the purchase power of virtually every average household and is very simple to operate. Moreover, in the collapsed condition of FIG. 3, it is very compact and easy to handle. It can be stored in closet or cupboardor hung up such as by the use of hand holds 66. r

The modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is in general similar to that described above, except that the inflatable bags 7. have tapered, U-shaped configuration, with the bight portion 74 of each disposed adjacent an end of the seat, structure and with leg portic-ns 76 projecting toward the central region of the structure. In this case, communication between the two 1nflatable bags is provided by openings 7 8 in legs 76 aligned with openings 80 in board 30a. From FIG. 5, it will be seen that leg portions 76 of the two bags horizontally overlap to facilitate registry of their respective holes 78. Functioning and use of this form of the invention is substantially the same as that described above.

I claim: 1. An inflatable bathtub seat comprising, a base member adapted to rest upon a bathtub bottom, a top member defining a seat, and a third interconnecting member, said members having corresponding first and second end portions in generally vertical alignment, means forming hinged connections between the first end portions of said base and third members and between the second end portions of said top and third members, means providing inflatable chamber means between opposite sides of said third member and said base and top members respectively,

fill and drain tubing in hydraulic communication with 1 said chamber means so that water underpressure can be introduced into and drained from said chamber means for raising and lowering said seat,

said members and hinged connections being substantially rigid in directions normal to the plane of swinging of said members about the axes of said connections, whereby to stabilize said seat against lateral tipping when elevated,

and means providing restraint to flow of Water in said chamber means in an endwise direction, whereby to stabilize said seat against longitudinal tipping when elevated.

'2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber means has a total volume in inflated condition thereof which is small as compared to the volume defined by the outlines of said bathtub seat in elevated condition of said seat member.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber means comprises two chambers, one of which is disposed between said top member and said third member, and the other of which is disposed between said bottom member and said third member.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein duct means is provided between said chambers through which at least one of said chambers is filled and drained, said duct means having relatively small sectional area and thereby providing siad restraint.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said duct means passes through said third member. 4, 6.The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said base and top members are in generally parallel horizontal relation, said third member in elevated positions of said seat extending at a slope betweensaid hinged connections, each of said chambers comprising an inflatable bag having top and bottom portions, one of which is secured to one of said top and base members and the other of which is secured to said third member and conforms to the slope thereof.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said bags extend substantially entirely from one side to the other of the members to which they are secured,

8. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said bags have generally rectangular sectional shape in a generally horizontal direction.

9. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein each of said bags has generally U shape with a bight portion and leg portions extending therefrom, said bight port ion being disposed generally adjacent the end portions of the members to which said bag is secured, said leg portions extending away from said end portions.

10. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said members comprise substantially rigid boards of a material such as wood.

11. The combination defined in claim 16 wherein said boards have substantially equal length and width.

12. The combination defined in claim wherein said hinged connections extend substantially continuously from one side to the other of said boards.

13. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said members comprise substantially rigid boards formed of a material such as wood, said third member having a hole between said hinged connections, duct means being provided between said chambers through which at least one of said chambers is filled and drained, said duct means passing through said hole, said duct means being relatively small in sectional area and thereby providing said restraint.

14. The combination defined in claim 13 wherein the longitudinally inner portions of said chambers are horizontally spaced apart, said duct means bridging the space between said chamber 15. The combination defined in claim 13 wherein the longitudinally inner portions of said chambers horizontally overlap on opposite sides of said third member, said duct means extending between the overlapped portions.

16. An inflatable bathtub seat comprising,

three substantially rigid members, one of which provides a base adapted to rest upon a bathtub bottom, another of which defines a seat disposed above said base, and the third of which has a hinged connection to opposite ends of said base and seat so that in elevated condition of said seat, said third member extends at a slope between said hinged connections,

a pair of inflatable bags disposed on opposite sides of said third member,

each bag having a vertical end face secured to said third member and conforming to the slope thereof in elevated positions of said seat,

each bag having another vertical end face, said other vertical end faces being secured respectively to said base and seat,

said bags in inflated condition being operative to sup port said seat in a generally horizontal position,

6 fill and drain tubing communicating into said bags so that water under pressure can be introduced into and drained from said bags for raising and lowering said seat, said hinged connections being substantially rigid and cooperating with the rigidity of said members to stabilize said seat against lateral tipping when said seat is elevated,

said tubing including portions of relatively small sectional area providing restraint to flow of water between said bags, whereby to stabilize said seat against longitudinal tipping when elevated,

said bags in fully inflated condition having a total volume which is small as compared to the volume defined by the outlines of said bathtub seat in elevated position of said seat member to facilitate rapid elevation and lowering of said seat member.

17. in combination with an inflatable bathtub seat of the type defined in claim 1, a fitting adapted to be connected between said tubing and a bathtub faucet, said fitting having a check valve operable to close against backfiow into a faucet, and having a pressure-relief valve openable responsive to attainment of a generally predeten mined pressure within said chamber means.

18. The combination defined in claim 17 wherein said tubing has flexible portions between said fitting and chamber means, the connection between said fitting and tubing being disconnectable so that said tubing portions can be lowered to a chamberdraining position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 706,332 8/1902 Messiter 137-512.3 2,216,818 10/1940 Kuhlman 4185 2,582,439 1/1952 Kavanagh 4185 X 2,817,096 12/1957 Roth 4-185 2,896,661 7/1959 Becker et a1 137-5123 3,071,779 1/1963 Turner 4-l85 FOREIGN PATENTS 719,244 1/1954 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GElGER, Primary Examiner.

J. S. MEDNICK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN INFLATABLE BATHTUB SEAT COMPRISING, A BASE MEMBER ADAPTED TO REST UPON A BATHTUB BOTTOM, A TOP MEMBER DEFINING A SEAT, AND A THIRD INTERCONNECTING MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS HAVING CORRESPONDING FIRST AND SECOND END PORTIONS IN GENERALLY VERTICAL ALIGNMENT, MEANS FORMING HINGED CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE FIRST END PORTIONS OF SAID BASE AND THIRD MEMBERS AND BETWEEN THE SECOND END PORTIONS OF SAID TOP AND THIRD MEMBERS, MEANS PROVIDING INFLATABLE CHAMBER MEANS BETWEEN OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID THIRD MEMBER AND SAID BASE AND TOP MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY, 